Help for Heroes Walk

Contributed by: Paul Steed Monday, April 05 2010 @ 09:42 am BST

Mike Cooper set off on his walk from Hemyock to Malmesbury in Wiltshire from St Mary’s Church on Easter Sunday morning with the Easter bells ringing around the valley. The walk is in aid of Help for Heroes which rehabilitates injured servicemen returning from Afghanistan and Sports Aid which assists the disabled compete in the 2012 Olympics.

Hemyock was the location on Maundy Thursday of a moving performance of Howard Goodalls Requiem including the Dies Irae “In Flanders Fields” by the Hemyock Singers.

The walk follows the Saxon trail through Isle of Athelney, King Alfred's Monument, Glastonbury, Wells Cathedral, Norton St Philip. Lacock Abbey, Lyneham, Hullavington and into Malmesbury Abbey where the tomb of King Athelstan is located a total distance of around 100 miles.The walk is in memory of all the service and sacrifice of our youngsters in the military over the last 1100 years.

A company from 9 RLC Regiment, the bulk of whom are in Afghanistan, will be joining Mike for the last stage of the walk into Malmesbury.